L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 55

Even while eating with the group as usual, Koi’s thoughts were entirely fixated on Ashley. He laughed and joked with the others like always, but Koi couldn't do any of that. His heart pounded, and his nerves were so shot that he could barely function. As he forced another bite of the dry, tough hamburger into his mouth, Bill’s voice cut through his haze.

“Speaking of, we never did find the guy who posted that confession about liking Ash, huh?”

Gasp.

Koi instinctively sucked in a sharp breath, but none of the others noticed. The conversation kept going.

“Probably some loser from who knows where. Might not even go to our school. Ash is famous, after all.”

“True.”

Someone snorted with laughter.

“Bet the guy’s definitely an omega, right? I mean, otherwise it’s just weird.”

Gulp.

This time, Koi audibly swallowed his drink. Still, no one paid him any attention.

“Obviously. Only alphas and omegas get like that with other guys. Betas don’t, right?”

The guy looked around for agreement—but Ashley suddenly interrupted.

“Liking someone doesn’t always mean you want to have sex with them.”

Koi’s eyes locked onto Ashley’s face. Ashley was still looking at the others, but somehow... it felt like those words had been meant for him.

“Well, yeah, sure,” someone chimed in.

“But if you liked someone, Ash, you’re saying you’d be fine without sex? No kissing either?”

“Yeah right. As if.”

“Oooooh, Ashley Milleeer, liar liar.”

The guys booed, giving exaggerated thumbs-downs. Ashley chuckled and picked up his burger. Right before taking a bite, he answered.

“Of course I’d do it. I want to do it so bad right now, it’s killing me.”

And then—Ashley looked directly at Koi.

His gaze was sharp and oddly intense, his eyes narrowed in a way that made Koi’s heart drop straight to his stomach. But the others all erupted at once.

“What?!”

“What did you just say?”

“Dude, come again?!”

The entire cafeteria turned to stare, but no one cared. Everyone ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ was too busy yelling at Ashley. Koi included—though his mind was racing in a completely different direction. His hand holding the burger trembled. He was definitely hungry, but his chest was so full it felt impossible to eat. He just fiddled with the half-eaten burger in front of him, unable to bring it to his mouth.

Meanwhile, the others kept pressing Ashley with questions.

“What, are you seeing someone new?”

“Who? When did this happen?”

“Dude, and you didn’t tell us?”

“It’s someone from our school, right? You’re not hanging with anyone else these days.”

“Yeah, lately you’ve only been hanging out with Koi.”

And just like that—all eyes turned to Koi.

Startled back to his senses, Koi flinched and quickly shook his head.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on novelbuddy.cσ๓.

“M-me? N-no.”

“Hey, did you guys see the new Saint Paul High roster? They changed captains.”

Just in time, Bill changed the subject. The conversation shifted with it, and Koi let out a silent sigh of relief, pressing a hand to his chest.

That was close.

He risked a glance at Ashley again—he was chatting normally with the others. But Koi couldn’t shake the memory of that intense look he’d given him just moments ago.

Has Ashley always looked at me like that?

“Koi.”

As the group stood up after finishing their meal, Ashley suddenly spoke to him. Koi, caught off guard, almost stumbled over himself but managed to stay upright.

“Uh, yeah?”

As he straightened up, Ashley reached out instinctively to steady him, then smiled.

Was he going to bring up that conversation? Here of all places?

The cafeteria buzzed with noise. Koi felt his heart in his throat. But Ashley just said,

“You’ve got your second tryout today, right? Let me know how it goes.”

“Huh? Oh... yeah.”

Koi nodded quickly. Ashley was right—today was the cheerleading team’s second audition. What he said was totally normal. And yet... it didn’t sound normal today.

〈Let me know how it goes.〉

Was that...

Was that his way of asking me to tell him how I feel after it?

Koi looked up at him, heart pounding. Ashley added with a warm smile,

“Do your best.”

Koi nodded, eyes still locked on him.

“Yeah.”

His chest felt like it was about to burst.

“...I will.”

And with that—

Koi made up his mind. He would ask Ashley. Do you like me? Even if he was wrong, Ashley wouldn’t laugh at him.

I...

I...

His heart trembled so hard, he couldn’t even finish the thought.

*

Tap—his foot hit the floor in time with the beat, and the gym fell silent. Koi panted as he waited for a reaction from the girls watching him. Standing front and center was Ariel, the team captain.

Her hair was tied high in her usual ponytail, and she stared at Koi with a serious expression, arms crossed and lips pressed together in silence. Koi looked back nervously.

“Hmm...”

Finally, Ariel spoke.

“Not bad. No, actually, you’ve definitely improved.”

Koi’s face lit up instantly. But Ariel didn’t let up.

“Still, it’s not enough. Not even close. You can’t join our team like this. You do know we’re the Buffalo High cheer team, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Koi nodded, tense again. Ariel looked over her shoulder, then continued.

“We’ve worked hard to get here. You’ll need to bring the same attitude.”

“O-of course! I’ll do my best—no, I’ll give it everything!”

Koi answered quickly. The wait had been unbearable. His mouth was dry. He clasped his hands together in silent prayer—

“Connor Niles. You passed the second tryout.”

“...!”

“But—”

Just as he was about to shout in joy, Ariel cut him off.

“Your physical condition is a serious problem. Being skinny is one thing, but you look pitiful. You’ve been hanging around those gorillas for months, and you’re still not even a chimp?”

She crossed her arms and added coolly,

“You’ll need to get serious about training before the season starts. We won’t go easy on you, so be ready.”

“I—I will!”

“Good.”

Ariel nodded.

“You’re officially in as a temporary member. Congratulations, Connor Niles. For the next three months, you’re with us. Work hard.”

And for the first time, Ariel smiled. The others clapped, cheering him on. Koi was too happy to speak. He just blinked, mouth open, then stammered out thanks as he bowed to them one by one.

“T-thanks. Really. I’ll do my best. Thank you...”

After all the greetings, he joined their basic fitness training for the first time—and it was exactly like Ariel had warned. Way tougher than anything he’d done before.

*

Haaaah...

Koi trudged across the field, legs wobbly with exhaustion. He’d never imagined the girls who moved so gracefully and smiled so brightly were secretly pushing through such brutal workouts behind the scenes.

Well, that explains how they can move like that...

Realizing just how amazing they were, he straightened up proudly. Even if it was temporary, he was one of them now. He had to do his best not to drag them down. That, at least, was something he could be confident in—because if there was one thing Koi never did, it was give up.

First, I have to tell Ash.

Just thinking of Ashley made his steps lighter. Of course Ashley would be thrilled. And realizing he had someone to share his happiness with—it was something Koi had never felt before. All the fatigue vanished in an instant. Humming under his breath, he practically skipped along.

Practice should be over by now...

Normally, he would wait for Ashley at his car, but today, he couldn’t. He was too excited. Too eager to see him even a second sooner.

So Koi headed straight to the ice rink.

“Oh.”

From a distance, he saw the familiar group walking off—looked like practice had ended early today. Koi almost called out, but a playful impulse struck him instead. He tiptoed quietly forward.

Ashley always surprised him. Now it was his turn to sneak up on Ashley.

He crept forward, smiling, hiding behind the tall players—Ashley would never see him like this.

But as he got closer, he realized—Ashley wasn’t there.

The joy drained from his face. He opened his mouth to ask where Ashley was, but one of the guys spoke first.

“Don’t you think Ash has been acting weird lately?”

Others nodded.

“Totally. He never hangs out with us anymore.”

“He wasn’t even around during his own party.”

“And no one knows why he broke up with Elle, either.”

Everyone murmured in agreement—then someone said:

“Don’t you think it started when he got close to Koi?”

Koi’s name came up so suddenly that he ducked behind the nearest building, heart hammering. He could still hear their voices behind him.

“Come to think of it, Ash really is always with Koi these days.”

“Dude, earlier I legit got chills.”

“You don’t think it’s Koi, right?”

The commotion grew louder. Koi covered his mouth with both hands, face burning.

Oh no, they know. They all know!

“Seriously? That guy with Ash? No way.”

Then Bill’s voice chimed in.

“Yeah, Ash only hangs out with Koi because he pities him.”

...What?

Koi’s heart, which had been racing so fast just moments ago, dropped like ice.